Weigh scale technology

ABSTRACT

A weighing scale is disclosed. The scale includes a base, a load cell assembly coupled to the base, and a platform coupled to the load cell assembly. Also disclosed are alternative embodiments of the load cell assembly and methods of making and using the scale.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS, IF ANY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/770,559, filed Nov. 21, 2018,which is hereby incorporated by reference.

37 C.F.R. § 1.71(e) AUTHORIZATION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the US Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX, IF ANY

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, generally, to weighing scales. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to electronic strain gauge scalesystems, apparatus, and methods. Most particularly, the inventionrelates to a system, apparatus and method for strain gauge weighingscales using a shear beam load cell.

2. Background Information About the Prior Art

Scales are devices used to measure the weight of objects. Scales used tomeasure the weight of very heavy loads must incorporate a robust design.A strain gauge scale utilizes a beam which, relative to a spring scale,can tolerate higher loads. The strain gauge commonly consists of aninsulating flexible backing which supports a metallic foil pattern. Thegauge is attached to the beam by a suitable adhesive. As the beam isdeformed by the weight of a load, the foil is deformed, causing itselectrical resistance to change. The scale therefore creates anelectrical signal whose magnitude is directly proportional to the forceexerted by the load.

Existing technology, in general, includes apparatus and/or methods forweighing scales.

This technology is believed to have significant limitations andshortcomings.

For these and other reasons, a need exists for the present invention.

All US patents and patent applications, and all other publisheddocuments mentioned anywhere in this application are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides a weighing scale apparatus and methodwhich are practical, reliable, accurate, safe, and efficient, and whichare believed to fulfill a need and to constitute an improvement over thebackground technology.

In one aspect, the invention provides a weigh scale, comprising a basefor mounting the scale to an external surface, a load cell assemblyconnected to the base, and a platform connected to the load cellassembly, the platform being adapted to engage a load to be weighed.

In another aspect, the invention provides a weigh scale including:

a. a base for mounting the scale to an external surface, the base havingan L-shaped configuration with a vertical member and a horizontal memberextending from a bottom end of the vertical member;

b. a load cell assembly connected to the base, the load cell assemblybeing a single point type load cell having an elongated beam body with arectilinear configuration with first and second ends, the beam bodyhaving a flat top surface, first end of the beam body being connected tothe base, the second end of the beam body being raised upwardly apredetermined distance from the remaining top surface, the second end ofthe beam body having a top surface which is connected to a bottomsurface of the platform, and

c. a platform connected to the load cell assembly and being adapted toengage a load to be weighed, the platform having a rectilinearperipheral geometry with flat top and bottom surfaces.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a weigh scale, including

a. a base for mounting the scale to an external surface, the base havingan L-shaped configuration with a vertical member and a horizontal memberextending from a bottom end of the vertical member:

b. a load cell assembly connected to the base, the load cell assemblycomprising:

-   -   i. a single point type, elongated beam body with a rectilinear        configuration with first and second ends, the beam body having a        flat top surface, first end of the beam body being connected to        the base, the second end of the beam body being raised upwardly        a predetermined distance from the remaining top surface, the        second end of the beam body having a top surface which is        connected to a bottom surface of the platform,    -   ii. a spacer disposed between the top surface of the second end        of the load cell and the bottom surface of the platform,    -   iii. an extension disposed at the first end of the beam body;

c. a platform connected to the load cell assembly and being adapted toengage a load to be weighed, the platform having a square peripheralgeometry with flat top and bottom surfaces and a central region disposedequidistantly from four side edges, the bottom surface of platform beingconnected to the second end of the load cell at an area on the bottomsurface which is outside the central region, and near a side edgethereof; and

d. whereby the load cell extends outwardly from the base, above anyexternal surface, and the platform extends inwardly above the load cell,and towards the base.

Other aspects of the invention include alternative load cell assemblies.

The aspects, features, advantages, benefits and objects of the inventionwill become clear to those skilled in the art by reference to thefollowing description, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The present invention, and the manner and process of making and usingit, will be better understood by those skilled in the art by referenceto the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the scale of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the scale.

FIG. 3 is top view of the scale.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the scale.

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view of the scale.

FIG. 6 is an opposite end view of the scale.

FIG. 7 is a further top view of the scale.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the scale, taken along line 8-8 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the scale.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a first alternative embodiment of a loadcell assembly of the scale.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a base of the assembly of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the base.

FIG. 13 is an end view of the base.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the base.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the base taken at lineAA of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view, from above, of a load cell of theassembly of FIG. 10.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view, from below, of the load cell.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the load cell.

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the load cell.

FIG. 20 is an end elevation view of the load cell.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the load cell.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the load cell taken at line 22-22 ofFIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of a loadcell assembly of the scale.

FIG. 24 is another perspective view of the second alternative embodimentof the load cell assembly of the scale.

FIG. 25 is a top view of the assembly.

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the assembly.

FIG. 27 is an end view of the assembly.

FIG. 28 is an opposite end view of the assembly.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view, from above, of a base of the assembly ofFIG. 23.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view, from below, of the base.

FIG. 31 is a top view of the base.

FIG. 32 is a bottom view of the base.

FIG. 33 is an end elevation view of the base.

FIG. 34 is a side view of the base.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the base taken at line 35-35 of FIG.34.

FIG. 36 is an enlarged view of a portion of die base taken at area “36”of FIG. 34.

FIG. 37 is perspective view, from above, of a third alternativeembodiment of a load cell assembly of the scale.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view, from below, of the assembly.

FIG. 39 is a top view of the assembly.

FIG. 40 is a side elevation view of the assembly.

FIG. 41 is an end view of the assembly.

FIG. 42 is an opposite end view of the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides an efficient, effective scale used to weighobjects. Objects that are weighable include vehicles, manufacturedarticles, and packaged goods.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the scale 10. Thisembodiment of the scale, and load cell assembly therefor, features asingle point design. In this embodiment, the scale 10 is compact andportable. Referring also to FIG. 9, the scale 10 primarily comprises amounting base 12, a load cell assembly 14, and a platform 16. In use,the mounting base 12 is adapted to be disposed on a flat surface such asa vertically disposed member (a wall or the like) or horizontally suchas ground, a floor, or the like. The load cell 14 is coupled to the topside of the base mount 12. The platform 16 is coupled to the top side ofthe load cell 14.

In use an article is placed on the platform 16 of the scale 10. Thisexerts downward pressure on one end of the load cell 14. The load cell14 experiences a deformation that is used to calculate the weight of theobject through a change in the electrical resistance of a strain gaugeor gauges which are adhered to the load cell 14.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the scale. FIG. 3 is top view of thescale. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the scale. FIG. 5 is an end elevationview of the scale. FIG. 6 is an opposite end view of the scale. FIG. 7is a further top view of the scale. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view ofthe scale, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

The base 12 has a horizontal member 20 with a rectangular configurationand a vertical member 22 extending upwardly from one end of thehorizontal member 20. A plurality of bolts 24, preferably four, are usedto couple the horizontal member 22 through bottom apertures 23. A pairof side apertures 25 are disposed in the vertical member 22. The base 12is preferably constructed of a rigid metal material such as stainlesssteel.

In this embodiment, the load cell 14 is a single point, shear beam typeload cell. It has a rectilinear, generally block shaped configuration.At a first end, it has a bottom platform 26. At the opposite end it hasa top platform 28. Platform 26 has a plurality, preferably four, of boltconnection apertures 27. Likewise, top platform 28 has a plurality ofapertures 29. A load cell extension 30 extends horizontally from thefirst end of the load cell 14. Extension 30 comprises a hexagonal base32 and a cylindrical sub-extension 34, the sub-extension being insertedinto an aperture 36 in the vertical member 22 of the base 12. A loadcell spacer 50 is disposed on top of the top platform 28 and disposedbetween the load cell 14 and the platform 16. The load cell 14 body isconstructed of a rigid metal material such as aluminum.

The platform 16 has a rectilinear configuration, preferablysubstantially square. The platform 16 is coupled to the load cell 14,via the spacer 50, via a plurality of bolts 60, preferably four. Theplatform 16 is preferably constructed of a rigid metal, preferablystainless steel.

In the scale 10 embodiment shown, the base 12, load cell 14 and platform16 all have predetermined preferred dimensions. The device 10 ispreferably made or manufactured by attaching all parts described attheir respective connections described and by using the fastening meansand methods shown and described.

FIGS. 10-22 disclose a first alternative embodiment of a load cellassembly 110. This embodiment of the assembly 110 is particularlysuitable for aftermarket or retrofitting existing scales. As is bestshown in FIG. 10, in an exploded view, the assembly 110 primarilycomprises a base plate 112, a load cell 114, and a top loading block116. The load cell 114 is coupled to one end of the base mount 112. Theloading block 116 is coupled to the top side of the load cell 114. Thebase 112 is connected to the load cell 114 preferably via bolt. The toploading block 116 is connected to the top side of one end of the loadcell. The block 116 is connectible to a platform or other means forholding or engaging a load to be weighed (not shown)

The top side of the base plate 112 includes an indentation 121, which isopen on one end. The load cell 114 comprises a base 130 and an arm 132extending from the center of the load cell base 130. The arm 132 restson top of base plate 112 and is disposed within the indentation 121.Base plate 112 is connected to the load cell via screws through loadcell base 130. A blade type flexure 120 is disposed on top of the loadcell 114, being bolted to the load cell base 130 at one end and the arm132 at the other. A spacer clamp 122 is bolted on top of the flexure 120at the base 130 end, and the top loading block 116 is bolted on top ofdie flexure 120 at the arm 132 end of the load cell 114.

FIGS. 23-36 show a second alternative embodiment of a load cell assembly210. T his embodiment of the assembly 210 features a co-planar design.Referring to FIG. 23, a perspective view, the assembly 210 primarilycomprises a base 212, a load cell 214, and a top loading block 216. Thebase 212 has a primary indentation 220 and a secondary indentation 222within the primary indentation 220. FIGS. 24-28 illustrate the co-planarprofile.

The load cell 214 is secured to the top side of the base on either endby two spacer clamps 215A & B and preferably two pairs of screws. Asmall block is connected to the bottom of the center of the load cell214. A large block 232 is disposed within the primary indentation 222,and is connected to the bottom of the small block 230.

FIGS. 37-42 disclose a third alternative embodiment of a load cellassembly 310. The assembly 310 primarily comprises a base 312, a loadcell 314, and a top loading block 316. The base 312 comprises a raisedportion on each end, with a lower central surface. The load cell 314 isconnected to the raised portions of the base 312 at each end, and to thetop loading block 316 at a center point substantially equidistantbetween the ends. Two spacer clamps are disposed on the top side of theload cell 314 at each end, and are connected preferably via screws whichalso secure the load cell 314 to the base 312. A small block 322 isconnected to the bottom side of load cell directly underneath the toploading block, preferably via screws.

The embodiments above are chosen, described and illustrated so thatpersons skilled in the art will be able to understand the invention andthe manner and process of making and using it. The descriptions and theaccompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and notthe exhaustive or limited sense. The invention is not intended to belimited to the exact forms disclosed. While the application attempts todisclose all of the embodiments of the invention that are reasonablyforeseeable, there may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications thatremain as equivalents. It should be understood by persons skilled in theart that there may be other embodiments than those disclosed which fallwithin the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Where aclaim, if any, is expressed as a means or step for performing aspecified function it is intended that such claim be construed to coverthe corresponding structure, material, or acts described in thespecification and equivalents thereof, including both structuralequivalents and equivalent structures, material-based equivalents andequivalent materials, and act-based equivalents and equivalent acts.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A weigh scale, comprising a base for mounting the scale to an external surface, a load cell assembly connected to the base, and a platform connected to the load cell assembly, the platform being configured to engage a load to be weighed, wherein the load cell, assembly comprises a single point type load cell including an elongated beam body having a rectilinear configuration with first and second ends, the beam body having a flat top surface, first end of the beam body being connected to the base, the second end of the beam body being raised upwardly a predetermined distance from the remaining top surface, the second end of the beam body having a top surface which is connected to a bottom surface of the platform.
 2. The weigh scale of claim 1, wherein the base is has an L-shaped configuration with a vertical member and a horizontal member extending from a bottom end of the vertical member.
 3. The weigh scale of claim 2, wherein the load cell is connected to a top surface of the horizontal member by at least one fastener.
 4. The weigh scale of claim 2, wherein the vertical member has at least one fastening point for connection to an external surface.
 5. The weigh scale of claim 1, wherein the second end of the load cell is connected to the bottom surface of the platform by at least one fastener.
 6. The weigh scale of claim 5, wherein the load cell assembly further comprises a spacer disposed between the top surface of the second end of the load cell and the bottom surface of the platform.
 7. The weigh scale of claim 5, wherein the load cell assembly further comprises an extension disposed at the first end of the beam body.
 8. The weigh scale of claim 1, wherein the platform has a rectilinear peripheral geometry with flat top and bottom surfaces.
 9. The weigh scale of claim 8, wherein the bottom surface of the platform is connected to a top surface of the load cell assembly.
 10. The weigh scale of claim 1, wherein: the base is has an L-shaped configuration with a vertical member and a horizontal member extending from a bottom end of the vertical member; and the platform has a square peripheral geometry with flat top and bottom surfaces and a central region disposed equidistantly from four side edges.
 11. A weigh scale, comprising: a. a base for mounting the scale to an external surface, the base having an L-shaped configuration with a vertical member and a horizontal member extending from a bottom end of the vertical member; b. a load cell assembly connected to the base, the load cell assembly being a single point type load cell having an elongated beam body with a rectilinear configuration with first and second ends, the beam body having a flat top surface, first end of the beam body being connected to the base, the second end of the beam body being raised upwardly a predetermined distance from the remaining top surface, the second end of the beam body having a top surface which is connected to a bottom surface of the platform, and c. a platform connected to the load cell assembly and being configured to engage a load to be weighed, the platform having a rectilinear peripheral geometry with flat top and bottom surfaces.
 12. A weigh scale, comprising: a. a base for mounting the scale to an external surface, the base having an L-shaped configuration with a vertical member and a horizontal member extending from a bottom end of the vertical member; b. a load cell assembly connected to the base, the load cell assembly comprising: i. a single point type, elongated beam body with a rectilinear configuration with first and second ends, the beam body having a flat top surface, first end of the beam body being connected to the base, the second end of the beam body being raised upwardly a predetermined distance from the remaining top surface, the second end of the beam body having a top surface which is connected to a bottom surface of the platform, ii. a spacer disposed between the top surface of the second end of the load cell and the bottom surface of the platform, iii. an extension disposed at the first end of the beam body; c. a platform connected to the load cell assembly and being configured to engage a load to be weighed, the platform having a square peripheral geometry with flat top and bottom surfaces and a central region disposed equidistantly from four side edges, the bottom surface of platform being connected to the second end of the load cell at an area on the bottom surface which is outside the central region, and near a side edge thereof; and d. whereby the load cell extends outwardly from the base, above any external surface, and the platform extends inwardly above the load cell, and towards the base.
 13. A weigh scale, comprising a base for mounting the scale to an external surface, a load cell assembly connected to the base, and a platform connected to the load cell assembly, the platform being configured to engage a load to be weighed, wherein: the base is has an L-shaped configuration with a vertical member and a horizontal member extending from a bottom end of the vertical member; the load cell has a elongated body with first and second ends and top surface, the first end of the body being connected to the horizontal member of the base and extending beyond the horizontal member predetermined distance, the second end of the beam body being raised upwardly a predetermined distance from the remaining top surface; the platform has a square peripheral geometry with flat top and bottom surfaces and a central region disposed equidistantly from four side edges, the bottom surface of platform being connected to the second end of the load cell at an area on the bottom surface which is outside the central region, and near a side edge thereof; and whereby the load cell extends outwardly from the base, above any external surface, and the platform extends inwardly above the load cell, and towards the base.
 14. A weigh scale, comprising a base for mounting the scale to an external surface, a load cell assembly connected to the base, and a platform connected to the load cell assembly, the platform being configured to engage a load to be weighed, wherein the load cell assembly includes a base, a load cell, and a top loading block, the base having at least one indentation, thee load cell being connected to a top side of the base, and further including a small block connected to a bottom surface of the load cell in the center thereof, and a large block disposed within the at least one indentation.
 15. The scale of claim 14, wherein the load cell assembly has a co-planar geometry.
 16. A weigh scale, comprising a base for mounting the scale to an external surface, a load cell assembly connected to the base, and a platform connected to the load cell assembly, the platform being configured to engage a load to be weighed, wherein the load cell assembly includes a base, a load cell, and a top loading block, the base having a raised portion on two ends and a lower central surface, the load cell being connected to the raised portions, and the load cell being connected to the to loading block at a center point substantially equidistantly between the ends. 